Texans convinced Posey’s character not an issue

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Hanging out on Miami’s South Beach with an Ohio State teammate last year, DeVier Posey caught a glimpse of a famous NFL receiver also chilling with friends. But not for a moment did Posey dare consider intruding on Andre Johnson’s space.

As a new Texans teammate, however, the rookie Posey plans to pester Johnson on a daily basis.

“I can’t wait to just quiz Andre Johnson and ask him about everything he does,” he said. “I’m excited to get down to Houston and get to work … and follow in his footsteps.”

The Pro Bowler’s new best friend fell into the Texans’ laps with the 68th pick in the NFL draft because of personal lapses that caused him to endure two five-game suspensions his senior season. Before the NCAA busted him and four other Buckeyes for selling memorabilia and receiving improper benefits — a scandal that ultimately cost coach Jim Tressell his job — Posey could have been fast-tracking to the first round after catching 113 passes as a sophomore and junior while scoring 16 touchdowns.

“When you look at (his) talent, he compares very well with some of the guys (who went ahead of him),” Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said. “He runs great routes and has good ball skills. He works hard. He fits with the rest of our guys.”

Historically, the Texans have been reluctant to take on players who have “character issues.” They made an exception for Posey because they concluded he’s a good person who made a couple of bad decisions, and he showed proper contrition for same. That’s exactly how he came across in a short conference call with the Houston media, ending most of his answers by adding the word, “Sir.”

Coming clean

After all, he broke rules, not laws.

“The first suspension happened when I sold my (Big Ten co-championship) ring my freshman year and missed five games,” Posey said. “The second one happened (because) I had a job and they told me I was overpaid for it. I made mistakes. It was something I learned my lessons from and I’m moving forward. It’s made me a better man and a better person.”

When he met with Texans personnel at the draft combine in February, he was candid about his transgressions.

“I had the official meeting where I got to meet everyone on their staff in a closed room,” he said. “I was open and honest and just told them everything that happened. I thought that it went well.”

Still, he admitted being surprised the Texans called, saying, “I had no idea” where he was going to end up.

Dennison pointed out Posey practiced every day even though he couldn’t play in games and made it point to work with the Buckeyes’ younger receivers. In short, he didn’t mope.

“From the checkups we all did,” Dennison said, “we felt pretty comfortable with him. We looked at what he did at the combine and we thought he’d be a good choice.”

‘Like another life’

The Texans began the evening with a second-round choice, 58th overall, but soon saw they would be able to snare a player they liked — Posey was one of several still on the board — by swapping with Tampa Bay to acquire an extra fourth-round selection.

“There was a cluster of people we felt really good about,” Dennison said. “We felt like if moved down and got the extra pick we’d be pretty comfortable with (anyone in) this group.”
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Despite missing all that time, Posey is still seventh all-time in receptions for Ohio State with 136 and the 1,955 yards he gained rank eighth. His 60 catches in 2009 represents the sixth-highest total for an Ohio State receiver.

“Being suspended seems like so long ago to me . . . like another life,” Posey said. “I don’t know. I’m just really excited just to be where I’m at, and I just feel very blessed right now.”
Art of the deal
The Texans have made trades during nine of their 11 drafts after sending their second-round pick (58th overall) to Tampa Bay on Friday night in exchange for an extra third-round selection (68th) and an extra fourth-round pick (126th). The most significant deals:2005: Traded the 13th overall pick to New Orleans in exchange for the 16th pick (Travis Johnson) and a third-round pick (66th) in 2006, which they used to take Eric Winston, their starting right tackle for five seasons.2008: Traded their first-round pick (18th) to Baltimore for the 26th pick, which they used to draft starting left tackle Duane Brown, plus an extra third (89th), which they used to take running back Steve Slaton, a 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie.2011: Acquired a fourth-round pick (127th) and two fifth-round picks (144th and 152nd) in exchange for their original fourth (105th) and their sixth (127th). With the 152nd pick, they took quarterback T. J. Yates, who became the starter last season after Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart were injured and was under center for the franchise’s first-ever playoff victory.

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[...] I sold my (Big Ten co-championship) ring my freshman year and missed five games,” Posey said to Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle. “The second one happened (because) I had a job and they told me I was overpaid for it. I made [...]

[...] I sold my (Big Ten co-championship) ring my freshman year and missed five games,” Posey said to Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle. “The second one happened (because) I had a job and they told me I was overpaid for it. I made [...]